Cornelius Harnett
Cornelius Harnett (1723-1781) served North Carolina as a statesman and advocate for independence during the Revolutionary War. Born in Chowan County to an Irish immigrant family, he built his early success as a Cape Fear merchant before entering politics in Wilmington in 1750.
Harnett rose to prominence by opposing the 1765 Stamp Act, helping to form the Sons of Liberty in Wilmington, and championing states’ rights. As chair of the committee that produced the 1776 Halifax Resolves, he helped make North Carolina the first colony to call for full independence from Britain. He later assisted in drafting the state’s first constitution.
He served in the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1780 but was captured during a British raid on Wilmington in 1781 and died shortly after his release. Harnett County, established in 1855, honors his legacy of leadership and commitment to independence.
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